Supporting device.



J. L'. LEDERBR.

SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED DEO.6,1909.

Patented N0v. 22,1910; A

J. L. LEDERER.

SUQPORTING DEVICE. Arrnxopron FILED DHO.6,1909.

976,472, Patented N0v.22, 1910.

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UNITED STATESPATENT orrron.

"JOHN L. LEDERER, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SUPPORTING nnvron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

Application filed December 6, 1909. Serial No. 531,534.

. ing an article and securing it firmly in position and can be readily operated for releasing the article. a

The object of this invention is to construct a supporting device of this character in such a manner that by the manipulation of a slngle operating lever,-the supporting hook member can be readily locked in position for supporting an article or can be unlocked and swung to its releasing position to permit the removal of the article; and further, to provide means whereby a single locking movement of the operating lever in one direction produces first a movement of the hook to engage the article and then a. movement of the hook whereby the article carried by the'hook is clamped firmly in position against some suitable stationary part and the article is thus held rigidly upon the hook.,

The device is intended more especially for detachably securing dust and drip pans to the frames of automobiles but its use is not limited to this and it may be employed for various other purposes where a device for releasably securing an article is desired.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View, partly in section, of the frame of an automobile'having a drip pan secured thereto by supporting devices embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof, partly in section, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the device in its intermediate position with one side of its frame removed. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the supporting device in holding position, on line H, Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a similar view thereof, showing the parts in their releasing position. Fig. 6 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 7-7, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a similar view, showing the parts in their intermediate position. Fig. 9 is a sectional plan on line 99, Fig. 6.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A A represent the side bars of the frame of an automobile, and B a dust or drip pan .which is suspended beneath the same and is intended to catch and retain oil and otherv drippings from the engine and other working parts of the automobile and to cover and protect these parts. As it is desirable that these pans be frequently detached from the frame for removing the oil and cleaning them, it is important that they be secured to the frame in such a. manner that, while normally held rigidly and immovably in place thereon, they can be easily detached therefrom whenever necessary, For this purpose releasable supporting devices are arranged at intervals along the side bars A for engagement with the opposite side edges of the pan B, and are constructed as follows: Each supporting device comprises a frame C which is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the frame of the automobile, a supporting hook or member D which engages and supports the drip pan, and an operating lever E for moving the hook, the lever and hook being movably mounted upon the frame 0. In the construction shown, the frame 0 has depending side pieces 0 c which are spaced apart and are connected by a pivot pin 0 and a front cross-bar 0 Between the sides 0 c are arranged, side by side, the heads or enlarged end portions d and e of the hook D and the lever E. The head 01 of the hook has a curved rear edge (1' which is embraced by a flange e on the head 6 of the lever, and the head 6 has a curved front edge e which is embraced by a flange 01 on the head al. The lever head e is pivota lly mounted on the connecting pin 0' of the frame 0 so that it is free to turn thereon, but is held from endwise movement, while the hook head (1 has a longitudinal slot d 7 through which the pin 0 extends and which ermits a limited endwise movement of the 001:. The edge at of the hook head is cumshaped and the flange c slidably engages this edge so that when the lever is moved forwardly it acts to raise the hook, and when it is moved rearwardly it allows the hook to descend under the weight of the pan. The curved edge e of the lever and.

' shown in Fig. 4:, they unlocking the hook and the flange a! of the hook are so shaped that when the parts are in. the holding position, engage and cooperate with the cam edge d and flange e to support the hook.

The hook head 0? is provided on its upper edge with a lu o'r'stud f which is adapted to engage in ahole f in a locking spring F secured to the frame'C to lockthe hook in its supporting position, and the lever head e has a releasing projection or cam f which is adapted to engage the spring F and move the same out of engagement with the lug f for releasing the hook D. The head 6 of the lever E is provided with a shoulder g which is adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder 9 on the hook' head d, see Figs. 3-5.

\Vhen it is desired to unlock the hook, the lever E is moved rearwardly, bringing its releasing cam f? in engagement with the spring F and forcing this spring out of engagement with the lug f on the hook, thus permitting it to assume the position shown in Figs. 3 and 8.

The further movementof the lever, by reason of the engagement of the shoulders g and g, swings the hook back out of engagement with the pan to the position shown in Fig. 5. In locking the hook, the operation is reversed. The hook is moved into engagement with the'pan, as shown in Fig. 3, and the operating lever is then moved forwardly to force thehook upwardly into its locked position, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 7, under the action of the cam flange e, as explained. This serves to lift the an and clamp the upper edge thereof firmly against the side bar A. The pan is thus firmly secured upon the hook and held from being thrown off the same by the jar and movementto which it is subjected. The pan can not work loose upon the hook and shiftits position and is also held from rattling, which is especially desirable in automobiles where such noise is considered aserious detriment.

' In releasing the pan, the first portion of the movement of the lever permits the hook to descend and the pan.to lower out of en-. gagement with the frame so that the pan can be readily disengaged from the hook. If desired, the lever E may be held in its locking position by a spring H which, in the construction shown, is formed integrally with the hook-locking spring F and is adaptedlto engage a shoulder h on the lever head preferably provided f which can be readily e. The spring H is with a "thumb piece h reached and operated -to release the spring when the'lever is grasped for unlocking the i 6.0

hook.

' moving the hook bodily substantially as setforth.

I claim as my invention: 1. The combmation of a hook mounted to swing into and out of engagement-with an a -'hook for clamping the article when the lever is moved in one direction, means for retaining the hook in its holding position, and means operated by the lever for releasing the hook from the retaining means when the lever is moved in an' opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a hook mounted to swing into and out of engagement with an article and also to move to clamp the am ticle against a supporting part, a spring for retaining the hook in its holding position, an operating lever for the hook, means operated by the lei er for releasing the hook from the spring and swinging it out of engage-' inent w1th the artlcle when the lever is moved in one direction, and means for moving the hook to clamp the article when the lever is moved in the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a pivoted lever, a hook mounted to swing toward and from the article and also to move bodily to clamp the article,

adapted to engage the spring to releasethe hook, shoulders on the hook and lever adapted -to engage to swing the hook out of engagement with the article, and a cam on the hook adapted to be engaged by the lever for to clamp the article,

at. The combination of a lever, a pivot therefor, a

hook having a slot through which said pivot passes which permits said hook to swinginto and out of engagement with an article and also to move bodily to clamp the article, shoulders on the hook and lever adapted to engage to swing the hook out of engagement with the article when the lever is moved in one direction, and cam faces on the hookand lever which engage and move the hook bodily to clamp the article when the lever is moved in an opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand, this 2nd day of December, 1909.-

JOHN L. LEDERER.

. Witnesses:

A. L. MoGEE, E; C. HARD.

a spring adaptedto engage a projection on the hook to retain the hook in holding position, a part on the lever 

